The Secret Swing in Big Sur: How to Get There by Car or on Foot

We'd heard whispers about the secret swing in Big Sur for years. Every time we made it down this way, we'd post up around Julia Pfeiffer Burns and the Big Sur River Campground area, and driving another hour and a half south just never made the cut. This time, staying at Kirk Creek Campground put us close enough that there was no excuse. It was at the top of my list, and I was determined to find it.

How to Get There

Heading north on Highway 1, turn onto Plaskett Ridge Road just before Plaskett Creek Campground. From there it's a steep, unpaved fire road for about 3.5 miles total, with a right turn onto a smaller side trail near the top that leads you the rest of the way to the swing, hanging from a lone tree on the ridge.

Two Ways Up: Drive or Hike

If you have AWD or 4WD: This is the way to go. The road is steep, rutted, and narrow in places — a properly equipped vehicle is genuinely necessary, not just a suggestion.

If you don't: You can still do this hike, but know what you're signing up for. We found out the hard way. We made it about half a mile up the road in our two wheel drive before the tires started skidding and we got scared enough to turn around. My husband wanted to keep pushing it, but I wasn't comfortable — so we backed off, parked at the bottom, and decided to hike it instead.

The Hike

We started around 2pm. The weather was cool, which helped, but it was still a slow, steady grind — all uphill, with a lot of breaks. My kids are used to hiking, so even once we ran out of water around the one mile mark, we knew we could push through carefully, rationing what little food we had and taking our time.

When we hit the 3.2 mile mark, there was no sign, nothing to confirm we'd arrived. We reached a gated area where the trail seemed to drop off, and we were sure we couldn't go any farther. My husband hiked ahead alone to scout it out and came back saying he hadn't found the swing, but he'd spotted it from a distance.

That's when the truck from earlier — the one we'd jokingly tried to flag down for a ride on the way up — came back down the mountain and stopped. The driver checked in on us, and when we told him we were close to giving up and nearly out of water, he gave us what he had left in his truck. We filled up, drank, filled up again, and kept going.

A little more climbing, a dip, and one more climb — and there it was: the swing, hanging from a lone tree, overlooking what looked like a sea of clouds instead of ocean. It felt like looking out an airplane window, except we were standing on solid ground. It brought us to tears.

We stayed up there for a long while, just taking it in. My kids — 6, 11, and 14 — weren't thrilled about the water situation or how tiring it was, but they made it, and I think they'll remember it. All in, it took us about four hours to reach the top, and it's the most elevation gain we've ever covered in the shortest distance as a family. It felt like a true adventure.

Not Just for the Swing

You don't have to make it all the way to that exact tree to enjoy this spot. Plenty of people were hiking up with hammocks and picnics, posting up at other trees along the ridge to take in the same views without needing the one specific swing. If you've got the gear and the daylight, it's a beautiful place to just sit for a while.

Is It Worth It?

Yes. If you have an AWD or 4WD vehicle, drive it — it turns this into a short, easy walk to an incredible view. If you don't, and you're an experienced hiking family who's prepared for a real climb, it's absolutely worth doing on foot. Just go in with enough water, a realistic sense of the distance and elevation gain, and a plan for turning around if you need to.

Keep Reading: Kirk Creek Campground